130 likes | 272 Views
What makes a successful fellowship application. Christopher Buckley Rheumatology Research Group MRC Centre for Immune Regulation University of Birmingham. What is a Fellowship?. Why do Fellowships exist? Why do you want to obtain a fellowship? Be honest with yourself!
E N D
What makes a successful fellowship application Christopher Buckley Rheumatology Research Group MRC Centre for Immune Regulation University of Birmingham
What is a Fellowship? • Why do Fellowships exist? • Why do you want to obtain a fellowship? Be honest with yourself! • Where do you want to do your fellowship? • What subject area to you want to do your fellowship in?
Fellowship Schemes • Clinicians & Basic Scientists & AHPs • Senior – 5 years • Career Progression (50% funding from Institution) – 2 years • Travelling – 1 year • Educational Research (PhD/Masters training) - 3 years • Clinicians • Clinician Scientist (postdoctoral training) - 3 to 5 years • Clinical Research (PhD training) - 3 years • Orthopaedic (PhD training) - 3 years • Barbara Ansell (paediatric rheumatology – entry level) – 1 year • Basic Scientists & AHPs • Career Development (postdoctoral training) – 5 years • PhD Studentships – 3 years • Foundation Fellowships- 3 years • Allied Health Professionals • AHP Training (PhD training) – 3 years
Fellowships and ResearchThe three “P”s • Why do you want to obtain a fellowship? Be honest with yourself! (PERSON) • Where and with whom do you want to do your fellowship? (PLACE) • What subject area to you want to do your fellowship in? (PROJECT)
What marks out a good Fellow?The three “I” s IDEAS INFLUENCE IMPLEMENTATION
How are Fellowships assessed? • Remember what is being assessed. • The assessment of a fellowship application is VERY different to a project grant • The “Dragons Den” • Life is not fair: The assessment panel can only judge what is in front of them!
What is Science ? • Science is about acquiring and classifying information • Science is not a means of establishing truth; it establishes facts • Technology versus Hypothesis driven science • Communication: apply Rutherford’s barmaid test
How does Science progress? • Apprenticeship • Define your question • Test the hypothesis • Assumptions are deadly • Risk assessment • Individuals and consortia
What is Clinical Science ? • Medicine is a mixture of art and technology. (washing machine engineer- Dx and Mx) • Subject to the same pressures of institutional and sociological change as basic science (1:20) • No more difficult than basic science • Not needed to deliver a good clinical service?
How does Clinical Science progress? • Lava lamp model • (paradigm shifts: for example H.Pylori) • Medical advance: a disruptive technology • Mobile phones • MRI • anti-TNFa • Statins • Clinical science circle: bench -bed, bed-bench, Mixed All Basic All Clinical Jonathan Rees
Some useful tips….. • Define your questions clearly • Have a clear vision and share it • Give yourself time to “sharpen your saw” • Always look for the “win-win” situation • Careful about judging • People are the “Currency of Science” • If the grass is greener on the other side, water your own.
Keep the end in sight….. • Always get feedback after unsuccessful fellowship applications • Have a mentor(s) who will be honest with you • Reflected glory is often brighter • I win when you win • A little joy goes a long way.
You Family Work Try to develop good habits “Its not our abilities that shape our future but the choices we make” (Dumbledore to Harry Potter).